“Many of our young people are more familiar with Google than with the gospel, more attuned to the Internet than to inspiration and more involved with Facebook than with faith,” Elder Ballard said during a devotional. He talked of how youth will increasingly come face to face with challenging topics within the gospel, and that, as leaders, teachers, and parents, we must not be afraid to openly discuss such topics and encourage youth to ask questions and search them out using reliable media.

A new initiative for seminary students will help youth focus on building and strengthening their faith in Jesus Christ, Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles told Church Educational System employees during a devotional on Feb. 26.

“Drawing on the scriptures and the words of the prophets, [students] will learn how to act with faith in Christ to acquire spiritual knowledge and understanding of His gospel,” he said. “And they will have opportunities to learn how to apply the doctrine of Christ and gospel principles to the questions and challenges they hear and see every day among their peers and on social media.”

During the annual "An Evening with a General Authority" devotional, Elder Ballard spoke of the great responsibility religious educators have in helping teens and young adults face the ever-changing challenges of the 21st century.